FaunaHub
VUVulnerablePartial review

Macaroni Penguin

Eudyptes chrysolophus

Macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus), a crested penguin with yellow head plumes.

Macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus).

Image: Sastognuti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
VU · Vulnerable
Animal group
Birds
Population trend
Decreasing
Last verified

Conservation overview

The macaroni penguin is a crested penguin with showy yellow head plumes, one of the most numerous penguins yet still declining. It is assessed as Vulnerable.

It breeds in enormous colonies on sub-Antarctic islands.

Range & habitat

Sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Changes in prey (krill and fish) availability
  • Ocean change
  • Disturbance

Why it matters

Despite huge numbers, the macaroni penguin's decline signals shifts in the Southern Ocean's krill-based food web.

Gallery

Macaroni penguins on a rocky slope.

Macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus).

Image: Jerzy Strzelecki, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Macaroni Penguin

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called the macaroni penguin?
Its flamboyant yellow-orange head crest reminded early observers of the elaborate 'macaroni' fashion of the 18th century, giving the penguin its name.
Why is the macaroni penguin Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite changes in the availability of its prey (krill and small fish), ocean change, and disturbance, which have driven declines despite large total numbers. See the IUCN Red List.

Last updated: